Thai construction tycoon and engineers charged over deadly Bangkok high-rise collapse

A salient Thai building executive, on pinch engineers, designers and builders, surrendered to constabulary connected Friday to look criminal negligence charges linked to nan fatal illness of a high-rise successful Bangkok caused by nan 28 March earthquake successful neighbouring Myanmar.

Premchai Karnasuta, nan president of Italian-Thai Development Co, was among 17 individuals charged pinch “professional negligence causing death,” Bangkok Deputy Police Chief Noppasin Poonsawat announced astatine a property briefing.

Noppasin confirmed that those who reported to nan authorities connected Friday formally denied nan charges. 

Many of nan accused had antecedently issued nationalist denials pursuing mounting scrutiny successful Thai media.

The illness of nan under-construction State Audit Office claimed 92 lives and near respective individuals still unaccounted for. 

It was nan only building successful Thailand to illness during nan quake, which devastated parts of Myanmar and killed complete 3,700 people. While rescue operations person concluded, DNA efforts to place nan remains will continue.

Noppasin stated that master study and grounds propose nan building did not meet building codes aliases structural standards. 

According to nan Bangkok Post, investigations revealed “structural flaws successful nan halfway assistance shaft and substandard actual and steel.”

Thai media person reported almost regular connected alleged irregularities successful nan project, including dubious archiving and procedural lapses. 

Much attraction has focused connected Italian-Thai Development’s associated task pinch China Railway No 10, a Chinese patient progressive successful world infrastructure projects.

Among those charged is Zhang Chuanling, a Chinese executive and head of nan associated venture. 

Zhang was arrested past period connected abstracted allegations of violating Thai business rule by allegedly utilizing Thai proxies to unlawfully power nan venture. Three Thai nationals were besides detained successful narration to that charge.

The Criminal Court issued apprehension warrants for nan 17 individuals connected Thursday. Noppasin confirmed that 15 turned themselves successful connected Friday morning, pinch nan remaining 2 expected to travel later successful nan day.

This is not Premchai’s first brushwood pinch nan law. In 2019, he was convicted of poaching protected wildlife and served astir 3 years successful prison. 

He was recovered blameworthy aft rangers discovered his statement successful a wildlife sanctuary pinch nan carcasses of respective uncommon animals, including a achromatic panther whose nutrient had been cooked.

The earthquake devastated ample areas of cardinal Myanmar, causing awesome harm successful Mandalay and nan superior Naypyitaw.